Toilet-flushing device



Feb. 23 1926 1,574,602

F. A. BURKHARD TOILET FLUSHING' DEVICE Filed March 25, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet l FULL,

WITNESSES INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Patented Feb. 23, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FREDERICK ALBERT BURKHARD, OF NEVJ YORK, N. Y.

TOILET FLUS1-ZING DEVICE.

Application filed March 25, 1925.

T 0 all whom may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK A. BURK- nnun, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of New York, borough of Manhattan, in the county and State of New York, have invented a new and improved Toilet-Flushing Device, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact descrip tion.

This invention relates to flushing devices for toilets and the like and has for an object to provide an improved construction wherein the'usual flush tank is eliminated and means are substituted which when oper ated, will turn on the water main for a predetermined length of time.

Another object of the invention is to pro vide a flushing device for toilets wherein the water main is connected directly to the toilet with a flushing valve arranged therebetween so constructed as to be turned on manually and remain open for a certain time, after which it automatically turns itself off.

A further object of the invention is to provide a flushing device wherein an automatically closing flushing valve is provided formed with adjusting means for varyingthe time of opening of the valve.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a side view of a flushing device disclosing an embodiment of the invention, the same being shown in operative po* sition.

Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional view through Figure 1, approximately on line 22.

Figure 3 is a View similar to Figure 2 but showing the parts manually moved to a position for opening the flushing valve.

Figure 4 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view through the flushing device shown in Figure 1, the same being on an enlarged scale.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional view through Figure 4; on line 55.

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5 but showing the parts moved to an open position.

Figure 7 is a sectional view through a weight carrying member used to automatically close the valve shown in Figure 4.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary sectional view through Figure 4 on line 8-8.

Referring to the accompanying drawings by numerals, 1 indicates a toilet of any de- Serial No. 18,238.

sired kind and 2 a wall through which the pipe 3 extends, said pipe extending to the water main of the street or other suitable supply. If desired, an ordinary valve could be arranged in pipe 3 to shut oil the water at any time. shown in Figure l, the pipe 3 extends to the wall 2 and is formed with a bend so that the flared lower end 4: may be soldered or otherwise rigidly secured to the casing The flared end (3 of pipe 7 is also soldered or otherwise secured to casing 5 whereby when the structure is operated, water may pass directly from pipe 3 to pipe 7 and into the toilet l for flushing purposes.

As indicated in Figure l, the casing 5 forms parts of a flushing valve 8 which is provided with a rotary member 9 having ports 10 and 11 adapted to register at certain times with the ports 12 and 13 in casing 5. When the ports are registering as shown in Figure 6, water may freely pass into the toilet l but when the parts are moved to the position shown in Figure 5, the various ports will be out of registrv and, consequently, the water shut oil. The rotary member 9 is hollow and water passes freely therethrough and around the hollow shaft 14; which is provided with a reduced solid extension 15 fitting into a suitable aperture in the end of easing 5. It will be observed that casino 5 is soldered or otherwise rigidly secured to a supporting plate 16 connected to well 2 by screws or other means. The shaft i l extends through one end of the rotary member 9 and into the lever casing 17. As indicated in Figure l, the rotary member '9 is provided with a packing gland 18 which is caused to properly function by reason of the cap 19 which is screwed into the casing 5 sufiicientlv to cause the packing to properly function. The casing 5 is also provided with a flange 20 which is riveted or otherwise secured to the lever casing 17. in annular boss 21 is provided on the interior of casing 17 for re ceiving the end of the shaft 1%, which end is preferably formed with a bifurcated opening 22 for receiving the valve operating member The member 23 is provided with a restricted central section 24 and a pair of erdarged sections 25 and 26. The central section 2%: is provided with screws 27 and 28 adapted to be forced into the passageway 29 to a greater or less extent whenever desired for restricting the same and,

consequently, for retarding the flow of the small Weights 30. These small weights may be lead balls, glass balls or other material and are adapted to automatically move under the action of gravity from one end to the other or the device 2;). Under some circumstances, the device 23 may be made of glass and when made of glass, mercury or other means may be used to cause a proper overbalancing as hereinafter fully described.

As indicated particularly in Figures 2, 3 and 4-, an arm 31 is provided having an encircling enlargement fitting loosely over the boss 21, said enlargen'ient merging into a weighted end 33, which weighted end is preferably merely an enlargen'iei' t of the parts so that the extra size will produce the desired weight. The arm 31 co-acts with an arm 3a having-a curved section an encircling portion 36 and an enlarged portion 37 which acts as a weighted end, which end is co'nnected to end by suitable posts 538 riveted at their respective ends into members 33 ans 3?. This will cause these menibersto be kept spaced apart and yet held together. The opposite ends of these members are connected together in the same way, namely, by one or more rivets 39 similar to rivets 38. A'plate 40 is pivotally mounted at 41 by a suitable rivet extending from arm 31'to arm 8%. This plate is in the path 0t movement of the member 23 and is pushed out of the way as shown in dotted lines in Figure 2 when member 28 moves to a vertical position. A flat spring 42 is connected to the casing 17 and acts as a stop for the weighted member A3 to prevent the same from moving in one direction but permitting the same to be freely moved in the opposite direction.

In operation, when it is desired tollush the toilet I and the parts are in the full line position shown in Figures 2 and 4, handle a3 is grasped and moved to the position shown in Figure 3. This handle is connected in any suitable manner with the arms 31 and 34'. so that as it is moved along the slot 44 formed in the extension l5, plate 4:0 will strike the end of the weighted member 23 and swing the same around to the position shown in Figure 8 and to the dotted position shown in Figure 2. As soon as this has been done, the rotary member 9 will assume the position shown in Figure 6 and water will instantly begin to flow into the toilet 1. In order to have the water flow for an appreciable time, it is not necessary to hold the parts inthe position shown in Figure 3 but handle 4-3 may be instantly released and the handle, together with arms 31 and 34: will assume under the action of gravity, the position shown in Figure 2. However, the weights 30 will be in the uppermost enlargement of the weighted member 23 and, con-- sequently, the rotary member 9 will remain in an open position as shown in Figure 6 until the wei hts 30 have moved down under the action or gravity to the lowermost enlargement, as "for instance, the enlargement 2(3 whereupon the weighted member 23 will gradually swing around to a vertical position as illustrated in Figure 2. As it swings to this position, the rotary inenib-pr 0 will be moved to a closed position and the upper end of inen'iher 2 will be moved past the plate l0 so that the parts may again function whenever desired. it the parts reniainopen for too long a time and, consequently, the water flows for too long a time, it is only necessary to operate the screws and 28 until they are withdrawn further from the passageway and, consequently, the weights 30 may flow more freely and, consequently, will more quickly pass from one enlargement of ii'ieinher 23 to the other. If the valve closes too quickly, the reverse adjustment is made, n ainely, the screws and 28 are turned until they move lurther into the passage-nay so that the weights 20 cannot more from one end to the other as quickly as oei ore. In mounting the member 22 the same is positioned so as to extend through the slot and may be secured therein by solder or other desired means.

hat I claim is:

l. A toilet l'lushing device, comprising a rotary valve adapted to be connected to a water main and to a toilet, a manually actuated arm connected with the valve for moving the same to an open position, a tubular member connected with said valve formed with enlarged chambers at each end, said tubular member being moved so that the lowermost enlarged end will be raised to a point above a horizontal plane and the upper chamber moved to a point below a horizontal plane, means for presenting a reverse movement of said tubular member, and a weight arranged in said tubular mcmher and locked in the lowermost chamber, said weight being capable of moving by gravity from one end of the tubular member to the other whereby when the lowermost enlargement is elevated said weight will gradually move under the action of gravity to the opposite enlargement and thereby cause the tubular member to be overbalanced and rotate the valve to a closed position.

2. In a toilet flushing device, a valve connccting the toilet to the water main and means for opening and closing said valve, said means comprising a manually actuated structure for moving the valve to an open position, and an automatically functioning member for closing the valve, said auto matically functioning member being moved to functioning position by the manually actuated member, said automatically aCtllating member including in its construction a weight formed of granular matter capable of moving under the action of gravity from one end of the automatically functioning member to the other whereby said member is automatically overbalanced for closing the valve a predetermined time after the manually actuated member has been operated.

3. A toilet flushing device, comprising a valve, a tubular member rigidly secured to the moving part of said valve, a rockable arm, a swinging plate carried by the rockable arm, manually actuated means for rocking said arm from one position to another,

said plate being so positioned that when the arm is rocked it will engage said tubular member and move the same until said valve is open, said arm being weighted at one end whereby the same will move back to its former position when released, and granular means forming a weight carried by said tubular member and adapted to flow from one end to the other under the action of gravity when the same has been tilted by said plate, the movement of said granular matter from one end of the tubular member to the other causing the tubular member to swing to a vertical position and thereby closing automatically said valve.

4c. In a toilet flushing device, a valve, automatic means for closing said valve, manually actuated means for shifting the automatic means for opening the valve, said antomatic means including a tubular member connected to the rotating part of a valve so as to rotate therewith, and granular matter arran ed in the tubular member adapted to flow Irom one end of the tubular member to the other as the tubular member is inverted.

5. In a toilet flushing device, a valve, means for automatically moving said valve to a closed position, said means comprising a tubular member having a restricted central section and a pair of enlarged sections, said enlarged sections being arranged at each end of the restricted section, adjustable means for varying the capacity of the restricted section, and means forming a weight arranged in the tubular member, said means being capable of flowing from one end of the tubular member to the other the tubular member is inverted, said weight being suflicient to move said valve to a closed position when the weight is at one end of the tubular member.

FREDERICK ALBERT BURKHARD, 

